The Decline of Empire

Colonial Nationalism

• The Dominions

• India

Amritsar Massacre

• General Reginald Dyer

• 379 killed, 1200 wounded

Government of India Act (1935)

• Rejected by Indian National Congress

Domestic Doubt and Division

• No consensus or continuity

• Imperialist ethos inconsistent

Impact of War

• Colonies fall to Japan

• Allies hostile to imperialism

• Atlantic Charter

• Debtor nation

The Imperial Balance Sheet

• Britain controlled colonial enmity

• African tribal boundary lines cut

• Middle East: contradictory promises

Beneficial Ideals

• Individual liberty

• Independent judiciary

• Parliamentary government

• Cricket

Surprising thing: that it lasted so long